Messier 96 is a spiral galaxy located in the constellation Leo. It is approximately 35 million light-years away from Earth and is part of the Leo I Group of galaxies. This galaxy is notable for its bright core and well-defined spiral arms, making it a popular target for amateur astronomers. Discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1781, Messier 96 is classified as a type SA spiral galaxy. It has an apparent magnitude of about 10.2, which means it can be observed with small telescopes. The galaxy is also home to several star clusters and regions of active star formation.